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Please also note that the author of this document will not be responsible for any plagiarism you
commit.
Question 1
1. Study the following article: Banister, D & Berechman, Y. 2001. Transport development and
the promotion of economic growth. Journal of Transport Geography 9:209–218. Evaluate the
article and write a paragraph on the link between transport development and economic growth.
Provide an explanation on which should be first and motivate your explanation.
The article "Transport Development and the Promotion of Economic Growth" by Banister and
Berechman (2001) examines the complex relationship between transport infrastructure investment
and economic growth. It highlights that in highly developed regions with existing efficient transport
systems, additional investment alone does not directly lead to economic growth. Instead, transport
infrastructure serves as a supporting factor that enhances other economic and social conditions,
making it a necessary but insufficient driver of development. The article argues that transport
investment must be strategically integrated with broader policies to yield meaningful economic
benefits.
A key theme in the article is the debate over whether transport investment drives economic growth or
whether economic growth itself creates the demand for improved transport infrastructure. This
discussion centers on the active and passive roles of transport in development. On one hand,
transport investment can facilitate growth by improving accessibility and efficiency, enabling
businesses to expand and trade more effectively. On the other hand, economic growth can generate
increased demand for transport services, which in turn justifies further investment in infrastructure.
The authors suggest that transport should not be viewed as an independent driver of development but
rather as a tool that enables the utilization of existing resources. In many cases, economic
development first creates the conditions necessary for transport investment to be effective, rather
than transport leading to growth on its own. This means that regions with strong economic
foundations are better positioned to benefit from transport improvements, as these investments
enhance existing economic activities rather than creating them from scratch.
Based on this perspective, economic growth should ideally come first, as it establishes the demand
and conditions for transport investment to have a meaningful impact. If transport investment is made
in isolation without complementary economic policies, its potential to drive growth remains limited.
Therefore, governments and policymakers should focus on fostering economic activity alongside
transport development to maximize the benefits of infrastructure investments.
[Alternate Answer]
Please also note that the author of this document will not be responsible for any plagiarism you
commit.
Question 1
1. Study the following article: Banister, D & Berechman, Y. 2001. Transport development and
the promotion of economic growth. Journal of Transport Geography 9:209–218. Evaluate the
article and write a paragraph on the link between transport development and economic growth.
Provide an explanation on which should be first and motivate your explanation.
The article "Transport Development and the Promotion of Economic Growth" by Banister and
Berechman (2001) examines the complex relationship between transport infrastructure investment
and economic growth. It highlights that in highly developed regions with existing efficient transport
systems, additional investment alone does not directly lead to economic growth. Instead, transport
infrastructure serves as a supporting factor that enhances other economic and social conditions,
making it a necessary but insufficient driver of development. The article argues that transport
investment must be strategically integrated with broader policies to yield meaningful economic
benefits.
A key theme in the article is the debate over whether transport investment drives economic growth or
whether economic growth itself creates the demand for improved transport infrastructure. This
discussion centers on the active and passive roles of transport in development. On one hand,
transport investment can facilitate growth by improving accessibility and efficiency, enabling
businesses to expand and trade more effectively. On the other hand, economic growth can generate
increased demand for transport services, which in turn justifies further investment in infrastructure.
The authors suggest that transport should not be viewed as an independent driver of development but
rather as a tool that enables the utilization of existing resources. In many cases, economic
development first creates the conditions necessary for transport investment to be effective, rather
than transport leading to growth on its own. This means that regions with strong economic
foundations are better positioned to benefit from transport improvements, as these investments
enhance existing economic activities rather than creating them from scratch.
Based on this perspective, economic growth should ideally come first, as it establishes the demand
and conditions for transport investment to have a meaningful impact. If transport investment is made
in isolation without complementary economic policies, its potential to drive growth remains limited.
Therefore, governments and policymakers should focus on fostering economic activity alongside
transport development to maximize the benefits of infrastructure investments.
[Alternate Answer]
